Blackbird Founders Fellowship in partnership with Grid110
Your business has a story. Let's tell it right.
Every founder has a story behind what they're building. The ones who learn to tell it well, to a customer, an investor, a partner, or the neighborhood that knew them first, tend to find that doors open a little faster.
The Blackbird Founders Fellowship is a six-week program from Blackbird Alliance, with programming by Grid110, built around that idea. Blackbird has always believed in the power of a well-told story. Grid110 has spent ten years alongside LA's early-stage founders, helping them build companies that last. Together, we'll work with twelve founders on both halves of the work: strengthening the business itself, and learning to tell the story of it with clarity and conviction.
Fellows will meet weekly in person at Blackbird House in Culver City, with one-on-one coaching along the way and a six-month Blackbird House membership that keeps the community going long after the program ends. The Fellowship closes with a Founder Showcase and Pitch Competition, a chance to stand up and tell the story they've been sharpening all along.
What Fellows Get
Six weeks in the room, and a stage at the end of it.
6 Weeks
of in-person programming at Blackbird House
$1,000
stipend for completing the full program
$15,000
in non-dilutive pitch awards, with a top prize of up to $10,000
One-on-one coaching from operators, investors, and
subject-matter experts
Six months of Blackbird House membership, October 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027
A place at the Founder Showcase and Pitch Competition, in front of investors and industry leaders
Eligibility
You’re a fit if you:
Are a woman of color founder, ally, or co-conspirator
Founded or co-founded an early-stage business that's already making revenue
Bring in no more than $1 million a year
Have raised no more than $500,000 in outside investment
Have a clear vision for growth and are committed to building a business that lasts
What we'll ask of you:
Your current revenue and financials, shared as part of the application
Your presence in person in Los Angeles for all six sessions
Your business doesn't need to be in Los Angeles. You do need to be in the room.
We're looking for founders with a real opportunity in front of them, a real problem they're solving, and the drive to get the most out of mentorship, investor access, and community.
Key Dates
Six sessions. One story, start to finish.
Wed · Oct 14
Your Story, founder narrative and brand
Wed · Oct 21
Your Market, market strategy and growth
Wed · Oct 28
Your Capital, getting capital-ready
Thur · Nov 5
Your Pitch, the art of the pitch
Thur · Nov 12
Your Stage, Founder Showcase and Pitch Competition
Mon · Nov 16
What's Next, close-out and reflections
All sessions run 2:00 to 5:00pm PT, except the Showcase, 5:30 to 8:30pm.
Blackbird House membership runs October 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027.
Good questions. Straight answers.
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Six weeks, six mandatory in-person sessions, running from 14 October to 16 November 2026 in Los Angeles.
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No. But all programming is in person in Los Angeles and attendance at all six sessions is required.
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Twelve.
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Nothing. Fellows receive a $1,000 stipend on completing the curriculum, plus a six-month Blackbird House membership.
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Yes. All awards are non-dilutive — founders keep 100% of their equity.
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The cohort. After Week 4, fellows vote to select the five founders who present at the Showcase. All twelve attend and network with investors.
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Founders across any sector. We care more about the strength of the opportunity and the founder than the category.
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Fellows keep their Blackbird House membership through March, join the Blackbird founder community, and may be featured through Blackbird’s channels. Blackbird Alliance tracks fellows’ progress for at least twelve months.
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Applications will be reviewed upon receipt, and applicants may be accepted on a rolling basis. Applications will close once the cohort is filled or on October 7, whichever comes first.